Canary Islanders of Louisiana

Sunday, January 1, 2023

"El Sagrado Corazon de Jesus"

"El Sagrado Corazón de Jesús" by Gilbert Din[2]

The sixth ship with Isleños, El Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, reached Havana on July 25, 1779, about the same time that news came of Spain's declaration of war on England. The captain general of Cuba, Diego Jose Navarro, decided to detain the passengers until he heard from Governor Galvez in New Orleans. Only recently Galvez had written to him about the growth of British troops in West Florida. Now, with hostilities declared, Louisiana did not appear to be the plan to send immigrants since Galvez expected fighting there.

He removed the Isleños from the ship and housed them in Oquendo, adjacent to the Sanuario de Nuestra Senora de Regla. He assigned Sub lieutenant Francisco Varela to look after them. Noting that seventeen of the recruits were bachelors and without obligation to continue to Louisiana, he offered them the opportunity to enlist in the Havana dragoons. Eight of them accepted.

Navarro planned to send an additional four recruits to Louisiana at the first opportunity as part of the reinforcements to assist Galvez. Five other recruits from the ship deserted in Havana within two weeks after arriving. Many never completed the journey to Louisiana.

Despite the incomplete accounts, the records reveal in gross measure the fate of many of the Canary Islanders in Cuba. Disease and death came all too often, especially to the young. A few accounts closed when all the members of the family perished or the surviving members acquired a new status. IN several instances, the father of the family succumbed, the mother remarried, and the children, if they were of age, either married or joined the army.

Over half of the family desertions occurred shortly before the ships sailed for Louisiana in 1783. A third group of Isleños who remained in Cuba received official permission to do so. The authorities also granted Isleño girls who married Cubans permission to stay behind, although several Cuban husbands accompanied their wives to Louisiana as colonists.

A major reduction in the number of Canary Islanders going to Louisiana occurred in early 1782, when 36 families from El Sagrado Corazón de Jesús departed to settle in Pensacola. The Isleños took over abandoned English houses, where they lived for the next three years. In 1783, Commandant Arturo O'Neill of Pensacola recommended to Intendant Martin Navarro of New Orleans to settle the families on the Escambia River, where they could raise livestock and dairy cows. In time, he reasoned, they could provide the Pensacola garrison with fresh meat and become completely self-sufficient.

The government, however, ignored O'Neill's advice and left the families idle in town, consuming rations and burdening the royal treasury. The Isleños also suffered because they received assistance irregularly. In 1785, weary of their plight, the families petitioned the commandant for authorization to settle in Cuba. Before the end of the year, they returned to the island. it does not appear that this group of Canary Island immigrants ever went to Louisiana.

-------------------------------------------------------

Relative to the recruits in garrison who were married or single, destined for Havana so as to embark for the Port of New Orleans on the Spanish frigate named, "El Sagrado Corazón de Jesús" - Capitan Don Manuel Mongioty.1

PC = Left for Pensacola in 1782 and remained there.

NO = Left for New Orleans in between 1779 and 1783 and remained there.

PC, HV = Left for Pensacola in 1782 and possibly returned to Havana in 1785.

NO-TAB = Left for New Orleans between 1779 and 1783 and settled in Terre-Aux-Boeuf.

NO-BAR = Left for New Orleans between 1779 and 1783 and settled in Barataria.

HV = Remained in Havana with no record of arriving in PC or NO.

1 - Don Joaquim de Vera

2 - Salvador Guerra [PC]
Josefa Mera, wife
Salvador, son
Josef, son
Catalina, daughter
Ignacia, daughter
Maria, daughter
Ysabel, daughter
Maria Josefa, daughter

3 - Augustin de Sejus

4 - Manuel Ramon
Maria Santana, wife
Maria, daughter
Juan, son
Josef, son

5 - Domingo Martin [PC]
Francesca de Acosta, wife

6 - Andres de Acosta [PC,HV?]
Maria Francesca Frallo, wife
Josefa de Acosta, sister

7 - Antonio Francisco del Castillo [PC,HV?]
Juana Maria Hernandez, wife
Juan del Castillo, son
Ysabel del Castillo, daughter
Maria del Castillo, daughter

8 - Juan Francisco del Castillo [PC, HV?]
Josefa Maria Negron, wife

9 - Manuel Hernandez [PC,HV?]
Josefa Benitez, wife
Juan
Diego
Catalina, sister
Antonia Benitez, sister-in-law

10 - Juan Antonio de la Roja
Maria Francesca Dorta, wife
Francisco de la Roja, son
Antonio de la Roja, son
Josefa de la Roja, son

11 - Pietro Pio (Pedro Gia) [NO]
Geronima Francesca, wife

12 - Miguel Quintana [PC,HV?]
Miguel, son
Juan, son

13 - Lazaro Botello [PC,HV?]
Francesca Ojeda, wife
Josef, son

14 - Tomas Meneses [NO]
Josefa Antonia Morales, wife
Antonio Ramon, son
Barbara Antonia, daughter
Manual Antonio, son

15 - Antonio Valentin Rodriguez [NO-TAB]
Larencia Maria Ramos, wife
Maria Josefa, widow of the recruit, Francisco Ventura Montesinos
Juana Montesinos, sister of deceased

16 - Francisco Hernandez Palmes [PC]
Maria de Jesus, wife
Diego, son
Maria Josefa, daughter
Gregoria, daughter
Francesca, daughter

17 - Francisco Luis Hernandez [NO]
Josefa del Rosario, wife [HV]
Josef, son
Augustina, daughter
Domingo, son

18 - Josef Medina [PC,HV?]

19 - Josef de Rojas [PC,HV?]
Antonia Bina, wife
Josefa, daughter
Melchor, son
Francisco, son
Manuel Andres, son

20 - Miguel Montesdoca
Maria Fasenda, wife
Brigida, daughter

21 - Josef Antonio Rubio [PC,HV?]
Petronila de la Concepcion, wife
Maria, daughter
Marcial Francisco, son
Lorensa, daughter
Maria de la Ciudad, mother-in-law

22 - Josef Gomez
Josefa Antonia, wife
Antonio, son

23 - Nicolas de Estrada [NO]
Josefa Antonia, wife
Rocque, son

24 - Josef Marrero [NO-TAB]
Lorenza Coruna, wife
Juan, son
Francesca, daughter

25 - Juan de Aguilar [PC]
Melchoria Ramos, wife
Antonio Clemente, son
Thomas, son
Barbara, daughter
Francesca, daughter
Catalina, daughter

26 - Ntal (Cristobal) Luis Molero [NO-TAB]
Josefa Nicolosa Bermeja, wife
Ntal, son
Bartholeme, son
Manuel, son
Antonia, daughter
Augustina, daughter
Theresa, daughter
Maria de Gracias, daughter
Cathalina, daughter

[NAMES OF PEOPLE MISSING FROM VILLERE LIST]

[INSERTED HERE FOR HISTORICAL ACCURACY]

X1 - Diego Rodriguez Beltran [NO]

Maria del Carmen, wife

X2 - Antonio Suarez Vera [PC,HV?]

Paula Maria de la Paz, wife

Francisco Vicente, son

Juan Antonio, son

Antonio, son

Vicente Antonio, son

X3 - Josef Pablo Morales [PC]

Cristobal, son

Francisco, son

Antonia, daughter

Josef, son

X4 - Lorenzo Antonio Montesino [PC,HV?]

Jacobina de la Paz, wife

Maria de la Mercedes, daughter

X5 - Juan Alonso de Mora [PC,HV?]

Bernarda Herrera, wife

Alonso, son

Josef, son

Maria, daughter

Antonia, daughter

Barbaia[?], daughter

X6 - Juan Lorenzo Gonzales [NO]

Maria Aleman, wife

Maria, daughter

X7 - Mathias Cabral [PC,HV?]

Sebastiana Espino, wife

X8 - Juan Ramirez

Juana Lopez, wife

Josefa, daughter

X9 - Julian Romero [PC,HV?]

Maria Gonzales, wife

Josef, son

Maria, daughter

X10 - Antonio Machado [PC]

Maria Ramirez, wife

Sebastian, son

Maria, daughter

Josefa, daughter

Andrea[?], daughter

[END OF MISSING NAMES]

27 - Nicolas Alonso Colino [PC,HV?]
Maria Cardenas, wife
Augustin, son

28 - Miguel Gil [PC]
Francesca de Sosa, wife
Rafaela, daughter

29 - Bernardo Gonzales [PC,HV?]
Maria Betancourt, wife
Juan, son
Josef, son
Miguel, son

30 - Juan Alonzo Morales (Gonzales) [NO]
Antonia Suarez, wife

31 - Pedro Suarez [PC,MOB]
Andrea Gonzales, wife
Francesca, daughter
Miguel, son
Juan, son
Maria, daughter
Maria del Pino, daughter

32 - Francisco Ventura
Ana Ruino, wife
Maria Suarez

33 - Pedro Socorro
Maria Herrera, wife
Manuel, son

34 - Manuel Sardina [PC, HV?]
Catalina Perez, wife
Josef, son
Maria, daughter
Josef, son
Angela, daughter

36 - Natal Rodriguez

Maria Rodriguz, wife
Josef, son
Tomasa, daughter
Vicente, son
Pedro, son
Sebastien, son
Juan, son

36 - Antonio Suarez
Antonia Rodriguez, wife
Diego, son
Josef, son
Maria, daughter

37 - Pedro Acosta [PC, HV?]
Cecelia Sardina, wife
Josefa, daughter
Maria, daughter

38 - Josef Antonio Coruna [PC, HV?]
Antonio, son
Juan, son
Lucia, daughter

39 - Estevan de Vega [PC, HV?]
Cathalina Suarez, wife
Juan, son
Francesca, daughter
Antonia, daughter

40 - Antonio Miguel Suarez
Maria Antonia Suarez, wife
Josefa, daughter
Margarita, daughter

41 - Juan Ramirez
Maria Perera, wife
Josef Ramirez, son
Francisco, son
Bernardo, son
Maria, daughter
Ana, daughter

42 - Juan Suarez [PC,HV?]
Juana Suarez, wife
Bartholome, son
Gregoria, daughter
Josef, son

43 - Juan Rodriguez Espino
Rosalia Espino, wife
Pedro, brother
Maria, sister
Josefa, sister

44 - Francisco Quintana
Margarita Rodriguez, wife

45 - Manuel Gonzales
Josefa Ortega, mother
Josefa, sister
Maria, sister

46 - Manuel de la Caridad [NO]
Maria Antonia Suarez, wife

47 - Josef Antonio Dumpierrer (Dupierrez) [NO-TAB]
Cathalina Medino, wife
Juan, son

48 - Antonio Rosales
Maria Ysabel, wife

49 - Josef Aleman [NO-TAB]
Antonia Espino, wife
Juan, son
Mathias, son
Ysabel, daughter

50 - Domingo Gonzales [NO]
Ana Quintero, wife
Juan, son
Miguel, son
Bartholome, son
Juan Andre, son
Maria, daughter

51 - Manuel Sanchez [PC,HV?]
Ana Ojeda, wife
Maria, daughter

52 - Josef Lorenzo Suarez [PC,HV?]
Maria Gonzalez, wife [NO]
Antonio, son
Juan, son
Miguel, son
Francisco, son
Josef, son
Francesca, daughter
Juana, daughter
Maria, daughter

53 - Juan Alonso de la Fuente [NO-TAB]
Beatriz Sosa, wife
Francisco, son
Maria Lorenza, daughter
Francesca, daughter
Antonia, daughter

54 - Manuel de la Nuez
Francesca Xavier, wife

55 - Manuel del Pino Quintana [PC,HV?]
Josefa Suarez, sife
Juan, son
Rosalia, daughter
Francisco, son

56 - Josef Monzon [NO?]
Ysabel Martin, wife
Juan, son

57 - Josef Perez Lopez [NO]
Thomasa, mother
Juana, sister

58 - Luis Quintana
Ysabel Lorenza
Agnes Maria del Pino

59 - Francisco Domingo Zupa (Zerpa) [NO-TAB]
Ana Suarez, wife

60 - Gaspar Zerpa [NO-TAB]

61 - Francisco Garcia [PC,HV?]
Maria Mexias, wife
Maria de los Dolores, daughter

62 - Juan Quintana [NO]
Ysabel Monzon, wife
Maria, daughter

63 - Bartholome Perez [HV]
Ana Suarez, wife [NO]
Josef, son
Natal, son
Francisco, son
Bartholome, son
Maria, daughter

64 - Francisco Guttierrez Betancourt
Maria Rodroguez, wife

65 - Sebastien Rivera

66 - Sebastien Cazorla de Vega [NO-TAB]
Ysabel Suarez, wife
Bartholomew, son
Angela, daughter

67 - Lorenzo de Armas [PC,HV?]
Sebastianan Maria, sister
Rosa Francesca de la Pena, sister, widow of the recruit Pedro Lorenzo
Antonio, son

68 - Josef Ruiz de Armas [PC,HV?]
Francesca de Vera, wife
Domingo, son
Francisco, son
Josephe, daughter
Rosa, daughter
Maria, daughter

69 - Geronimo Cuebelo [Curbelo] [NO]
Eugenia Maria, wife
Maria Antonia, sister-in-law

70 - Salvador de la Cruz Cabrera

71 - Santiago Hernandez Molina [NO]
Margarita Betancourt, wife
Maria, daughter
Josefa Maria, daughter

72 - Augustin Garcia

73 - Natal del Rosario
Antonia Maria de la Concepcion, wife
Natal, son
Joachim, son

74 - Antonio Josef Esteves [NO]
Elena Maria de Jesu, wife

75 - Augustin Gil

76 - Juan Alonso Mathias

77 - Antonio Josef Suarez [PC]
Dorotea Rodriguez, wife
Josef, son
Juan, son
Antonia, daughter
Lucas, son
Augustin, son
Maria Ventura, daughter

78 - Josef Mesa [NO-TAB]
Josefa Francisco Perez, wife
Maria, daughter
Theresa, daughter

79 - Juan Antonio Martin

80 - Domingo Quintana

81 - Josef Antonio de la Pena

82 - Matheo Cabrera

83 - Antonio Flores [NO]
Cathalina de Ziepa, wife
Margarita de Mesa, mother-in-law

84 - Patricio Gonzales
Thomasa Borjas, wife
Luis Ciriaco Gonzales, son

85 - Josef Lorenzo Perez

86 - Juan Suarez Falcon [PC]
Ysabel Navarro, wife
Christoval, son
Josefa, daughter
Cathalina, daughter
Maria, daughter

87 - Francisco Hernandez Truxillo [NO-TAB?]
Beatriz Heranandez, wife
Josefa, daughter
Francesca, daughter

88 - Josef Augustin Martin (Martinez) [NO]
Maria de Regla, wife
Sebastian, son
Ana, daughter

89 - Francisco Garcia Oramas [NO]
Francesca Acebeda, wife
Nicolosa, daughter
Josef, son
Maria, daughter
Augustin, son

90 - Domingo Machado [NO]
Antonia de Leon, wife
Antonia, daughter
Antonio, son
Josef, son
Francisco, son

91 - Bartholome Caraballo [NO-BAR]

92 - Marcos de Rojas
Lucia Ramos, wife
Marcos, son
Maria, daughter

93 - Alexandro de Rojas
Maria de la Encarnacion, sife
Juan, son
Antonio, son
Maria, daughter

94 - Salvador Josef Peneda (Penida)

95 - Josef Gonzales Llanos

96 - Dona Francesca Olives y Espinosa, wife of the distinguished soldier, Don Josef Herrera, who embarked on Dec 9, 1778.

97 - Dona Theresa del Jesus Espinosa, aunt of Dona Francesca, whose passage will be paid by the said nice, and the same for her sister-in-law, Elena Wood.

98 - Juana Perez, wife of the recruit, Salvador Ramirez, who embarked on Oct 22, 1778, who ran away from the scene of the embarkation.

References

Sidney Louis Villere, The Canary Islands Migration to Louisiana, 1778-1783. the History and Passenger Lists of the Islenos Volunteer Recruits and Their Families.
Gilbert C. Din, The Canary Islanders of Louisiana, Louisiana State University Press. p23-25

Monday, May 7, 2018

Father Angelus de Revillagodos

Father Angelus de Revillagodos became the founding pastor of Ascension church at Valenzuela. He got his appointment from the Bishop of Cuba, Rev James Joseph de Echeverria on June 16th, 1772 to serve in Louisiana under Governor Unzaga. Along with Father Luis Lipiano de Tolosa and Fr. Luis de Quintanilla, Fr. Revillagodos arrived at a time when the church was struggling to maintain control of formerly French speaking populations. Fr. Lipiano replaced Fr. Valentin due to clashes with Acadians at St. James, Fr. Quintanilla was assigned to "moral reform" at the northwestern frontier of Natchitoches.9

Fr. Revillagodos arrived on July 19th, 1772 in New Orleans alongside Capucihin Fray Cyril de Barcelona and were "well received by the Spanish authorities".3,4,8 According to historical records, "Father Dagobert, leading the French Capuchins, and followed by a large crowd, went in a procession to the levee. Standing in front of the "Place d'Armes" the new comers were received with due honors and great demonstrations of joy. The next day they were formally introduced to Governor Unzaga. Father Cyril then presented his credentials from the bishop, whereupon the Governor expressed his willingness to carry into execution the mandates of his superior, the Bishop of Cuba."1,8

They traveled to the area which at the time was known as Lafourche de Chitimachas and declared the new parish "The Ascension of Our Lord". Sent by the King, his purpose was to "minister to the spiritual welfare" of the community.6 The first church along Lafourche was founded on August 15th, 1772 and became an integral part of welcoming the first Islenos in 1779. Legend has it that Valenzuela was born amidst dancing and feasting.5 Because of “good times,” on Christmas 1779, the Islenos held a large celebration with Ascension's Father Angelus de Revillagodos marrying six couples and baptizing two infants. By 1773, he was assisting the parish of St. Gabriel up the river and continued to do so until 1782.7 In 1781, he helped oversee a new church in Ascension.

During these years, Fr. Revillagodos and Comandant Louis Judice didn't always agree. Judice suffered from alchoholism, indigence, and poor adminstration. Many priests in his territories ended up leaving. Given his conservative nature, Fr. Revillagodos also found himself embroiled with the French Acadian population and their customs. In 1776, while standing at the altar of the church, he prohibited all of his female parishioners from utilizing the services of Madame Desire LeBlanc, who had served as midwife for 22 years. Leblanc and her husband filed a complaint with Judice. Gov Unzaga overruled Revillagodos.

With the Ascension church far enough away from most Islenos, Fr. Revillagodos occasionally visited the Islenos in their own settlement for baptisms, marriages, and burials. During the building of the new church, Fr. Revillagodos received an unexpected departure notice in 1782 to serve Natchez for about a year. Although he asked to remain there, in 1783 he resumed his duties in Ascension.

Fr. Revillagodos, perhaps the first Spanish Capuchin to administer a parish in Louisiana, died in the church rectory in December 1784 after serving Ascension for a dozen years.2 It's been said that he died of grief brought on by Judice.5 The following year, he was replaced by Capuchin Father Joaquin de Ajofrin and then by Capuchin Father Pedro de Zamora. Today, many of our Isleno ancestors from Valenzuela and Galveztown had religious sacraments performed by Fr. Revillagodos.

In and around the old St. Louis Cathedral of New Orleans By Celestin M. Chambon
Baudier, The Catholic Church in LA, 184, 203-05, 235; BRDR, vol. 2
https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=10809
Life And Times Of The Most Rev. John Carroll, Bishop And First Archbishop Of Baltimore: Embracing The History Of The Catholic Church In The United States 1763-1815 by John Gilmary Shea
Canary Islanders of Louisiana by Gilbert Din
The WPA Guide to Louisiana: The Pelican State By Federal Writers' Project
http://www.stgabrielcatholicchurch.com/history/st-gabriel/
History of Louisiana: the Spanish domination by Charles Gayarré
LUIS DE QUINTANILLA Y LUIS LIPIANO. Archivo General de Indias, CONTRATACION,5517,N.1,R.9

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Jose Tilano & Micaela Reyes

Name: Jose Tilano

Ship: La Victoria

Residence: Aguimes, Gran Canaria

Wife: Micaela Reyes (Padilla)

Residence: Aguimes, Gran Canaria

History

Jose left Santa Cruz, Tenerife in Oct 22, 1778, sailing on La Victoria and landed in New Orleans on Jan 14, 1779 with his wife Micaela and children Juan, Jose, Gaspar, Augustin, and Maria.[1] He arrived at the Galveztown settlement.

Jose is listed in the libro maestro, likely receiving rations in Galveztown in 1779.[18] On July 16, 1782, he is shown listed in another list receiving raciones (rations).[19]

Micaela's name can be found spelled "Micaela Padilla" and "Migula Aparillo" in the marriage investigation of her son in 1803 and "Miguela Pretolina" in the baptism of son Augustin Miguel.[2,6] Jose is often listed as "Juan" in several records. She died before 1785.

1794 Galveztown Survey

Children

Juan (b. 1766)
Jose Antonio (b. 1769)
Gaspar (b. 1772)
Agustin (b. 1775)
Maria (b. 1776)
Augustin Miguel (b. 1781)

Son Juan is mentioned in US territorial claims shortly after American possession on February 8, 1804. He claims concession and measured, five arpents of land of front, with forty of depth, ascending from Galveztown, the Bayou Manchac, on the left bank, bounded on the lower part by the lands of Dn Marcos de Villiers and on the upper part by lands of Jose Ramirez.[8] He is shown on the Galveztown Survey map owning land along Bayou Manchac, near Marcos Develiers and Josef Romero.[14] He is listed in the Galveztown census of 1804.[9]

NOTE: Juan Tilano is mentioned in several church records in New Orleans as early as 1796. It's possible he lived in New Orleans with his wife Maria De La Concepcion but also had land claims in Galveztown.[17] Further investigation is needed.

Census of 1804

Son Jose married Catalina Martinez, daughter of Jose Martinez and Maria De La O of La Gomera, in Galveztown on October 5, 1803. Jose is listed as "Joseph Martin" and Maria is listed as "Maria de Lapo".[2] They continued to have children in the Galveztown settlement. He is listed in the Galveztown census of 1804.[9] By 1805, they moved to "Spanish Town in Baton Rouge" and continued to have children.[3,10] Catalina died and was buried in 1833 at St. Jospeh Cathedral in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[16]

"Spanish Town"
Distrito de Baton Rouge, 1805

Son Gaspar married Ana Diaz, daughter of Bartolome Diaz and Josefa Hidalgo, both from Aguimes, Gran Canaria.[2,6,13] Josefa is also listed as "Josepha Pavona". Their marriage investigation occurred on Feb 3rd, 1803 in Galveztown.[6,13] Their marriage date is listed as Feb 7th, 1803. By 1805, they moved to "Spanish Town" in Baton Rouge and continued to have children.[3,4,10] He died and was buried March 10, 1844.[15]

Son Augustin Miguel was born August 6, 1781 and baptized in 1783 at the Galveztown settlement.[5,11] He is mentioned that he "died at the age of 12" and was buried April 10, 1795 at the Galveztown settlement.[12]

-----------------------------

Jose married his second wife Ana Alegria. She was buried on November 15th, 1785 in Galveztown.[7,11] Jose married his third wife, Maria Morales, daughter of Josef from El Carrizal, Gran Canaria in Galveztown on February 25, 1792.[2]

By 1803, Jose was no longer in Galveztown. He was "absent in the city of Havana".[6]

Children

Juan (b. 1792)
Maria de la Concepcion (b. 1793)

Son Juan was born September 3, 1792 and baptized September 3, 1792 in the Galveztown settlement. He died "1/2 hour after birth" on September 3, 1792.[2]

Daughter Maria de la Concepcion was born November 21, 1793 and baptized November 26, 1793 in the Galveztown settlement[2].